Gateway Fellowship

Sometimes we can lose sight of Reality and get so focused on threats and problems that we live in fear or self-directed projects (spiritual or otherwise) designed to stave off fear. Colossians 1:15ff are actually lyrics to a very early Christian worship song, entirely about Jesus. Jesus existing before everything. Jesus being the agent of creation. Jesus holding all things together. Jesus being the Head of the Church. Jesus being the first person to rise from the dead and live in the New Creation beyond the reach of decay. Jesus as the One who, through the cross, re-aligned the entire universe with God the Father. That's a pretty big Jesus! Puts things in perspective, doesn't it? Sounds like pretty good news if our Savior is absurdly bigger than any of our problems. Well, it does IF we actually get in on what He has with the Father...

In this talk Mark Yoder shares stories on the theme of friendship and closeness with God. There's a lot in his words that hints at the mystery and miracle of grace. There are some warnings as well that if we aren't careful our hearts can get very deceived by life and we can lose our way. But Jesus. But Jesus. Here are a few of my paraphrases of things Mark shared that impacted me: "A lot of my friends thought when we were young that they had to choose between Jesus and fun, and they chose fun, and they're still wondering when the fun is going to begin. I chose Jesus, and can tell you that serving him has been an incredibly fun adventure." "When I experienced God's grace I thought I'd never have a bad day again. But after that I've had bad years. We sometimes go through some things as a Christian!" "Jesus asked the Father three times, 'If there's any other way, let this cup pass from me.' But then he got up and drank the cup, knowing it was the way. Can I just plead with you today, if you're there right now. C

There is a story about God in the world that is so common that many of us don't realize just how profoundly untrue it is. It asks a lot of questions like, "Where is God? Is he there? Where was he when that happened? Is he involved? Does he care?" In relationship to God, it tends to play the victim, making life more about putting God on trial with our hearts as the judge. It is a sneaky story, even creeping into the church, causing doubt and unbelief to be treated with dignity and even viewing faith as an act of heroism. Ultimately this worldview is built on sand and rooted in lies. The main question it asks is, "What will I get out of life?" The Bible, on the other hand, takes for granted that God is present, involved, close, full of love, faithful, completely good, trustworthy, very very talkative, easy to love, and easy to trust. It completely assumes that everyone can know God, even without a Bible, a missionary, or a church. And the questions the Bible asks are different. They are questions like, "Is huma

Sometimes people have thought about redemption as God paying off the devil, like a good man who, in mercy, pays off the evil gang of thugs who have taken over the neighborhood. "Here you take my son, and you give me back these folk. Do we have a deal?" But is that what the cross is about? Paying off the devil? Around the year 1,100, others realized, "Hey, that can't be right," so they decided that redemption must be a blood payment made to the Father instead. So, wait, Jesus is saving us from the Father? Is that really the way the New Testament speaks? What in the world? Then there's the classical Christian gospel, which says that God the Father saved us from sin and death (and the devil along with them) by becoming weak, being rejected and crucified, but ultimately rising, victorious, over them: Christus Victor. The victory of self-giving love. In this little chat, I talk about this and a whole lot more...

Joy and happiness are often described by believers are being entirely different realities, but sometimes I think we are simply trying to avoid admitting that we lack true joy. True joy will be a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not a rule to keep, but a byproduct of a life lived abiding in Christ. The word sometimes rendered "qualified" here is used by Paul in 1 Cor 3:6 where Paul said that God is the one who enabled him to proclaim and live out the new covenant in a manner worthy of the Lord. Our competence, our faithfulness, this whole walk, is done through God's empowering grace. The word, "inheritance," is so rich that it deserves its own prolonged study. For our purposes here I will say that an inheritance cuts against the grain of earning, and we protestants are prone to see that. But what I think is less clear to us is the idea that it is a family word. Inheritance is about belonging to a people, and receiving something from that family that marks our lives, gives us identity, shapes our destiny and our walk

It's been too long since I got to preach! Back at it again, this time we spent some time in Col 1:11, and talked about the difference between endurance, which is our capacity or stamina to keep going, and patience, which is the inner attitude that is willing to pay the pain price and doesn't give way to entitlement, anger, self-pity, and complaints during the trial... As usual, God's interest is on the "inside job," Christ being formed in us and expressed through us, not in making sure life goes our way. God is good, my friends! His way of thinking and living (yoke) is easy and his burden is light (Matt 11)! Those who keep on seeking and trusting in God will renew their strength (Is 40), and the best advice God gave me for how to heal is to forget what's behind and press on toward the goal of knowing Jesus and discovering life in him, precisely through pain, not in spite of it (Phil 3). Bees don't presume to know their larger purpose and impact. All they know is that they like nectar. They don't know, or need

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All … Continue reading "Pray for what’s working"

You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you. (Colossians 1:7-8 NLT)

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. (Colossians 1:6)

3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever … Continue reading "We Always Pray (Colossians #2)"

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace. (Colossians 1:1-2)